What is #BeAirAware?
Environmental Protection have launched Cornwall’s #BeAirAware campaign.
The campaign aims to:
- Raise awareness about the causes of air quality problems in Cornwall.
- Promote the links between health and active travel.
- Work together to improve air quality in Cornwall’s Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) and throughout Cornwall.
- Protect Cornwall’s residents from the harmful effects of air pollution.
What has #BeAirAware achieved?
#BeAirAware has resulted in:
- Parking officers trained to give idling advice to motorists whilst on their parking patrols.
- Digital roadside messages in six towns telling motorists to switch off their vehicles when stationary.
- Testing new indoor and outdoor air quality monitors and indoor air purifiers.
- Educating students about air quality in Cornwall, the health impacts and how they can improve their local air quality.
- Patrols within towns and outside schools to give advice on idling to drivers.
- Engaging with local environmental groups to understand local air quality perceptions and possible solutions.
- Produced a webpage providing guidance on burning solid fuel in the home.
Current Projects
Tackling vehicle idling at Mounts Bay Academy, Penzance
- Environmental Protection have been working with student air quality ambassadors to deliver their own campaign to tackle vehicle idling.
- A survey of the students found that 87% of respondents said they notice cars and buses waiting with their engines running outside their school.
- To measure the success of the campaign, concentrations of particulate matter outside the school have been measured since August 2022. The data is currently being analysed by a master’s student.
- With the assistance of a local videographer, the student air quality ambassadors at have produced a short film titled “MBA Unseen” which highlights the health impacts of air pollution from vehicle idling.
Launceston Clean Air Project
- The town wide Launceston Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) was declared in February 2018.
- A traffic survey showed approximately 16,000 vehicles a day use the A388 through Launceston, of which approximately 70% are local trips, or are using services located within the town.
- Environmental Protection were successful in receiving funding from the 22/23 DEFRA Air Quality grant.
- The grant funded the delivery of a bespoke air quality education programme, initially targeted to eight schools in Launceston, commencing in September 2023.
- A dedicated School’s Air Quality Officer recruited by Sustrans successfully engaged with four schools in the Launceston area up to the project end in July 2024
- The programme raised awareness of air quality and how active travel to school can be a good alternative to using the car and therefore helped to improve air quality in the Launceston area.
- The programme educated those for whom there is no alternative to driving, to encourage switching off of engines when waiting outside schools and also led to over 13% reductions in car travel and around an 8% increase in the use of park & ride/stride within participating schools.
- Further information on the project can be found within the Final Evaluation Report
Getting in touch
- If you would like more information on #BeAirAware, please email publicprotection@cornwall.gov.uk